Hendrick Motorsports’ Steve Letarte, currently the crew chief for the No. 88 Chevrolet of Dale Earnhardt Jr., will join the NBC Sports Group’s coverage of NASCAR beginning in the 2015 season.

Letarte will team up with lap-by-lap announcer Rick Allen and fellow analyst Jeff Burton as part of Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series broadcasts on NBC and NBCSN that will also include pre and-post-race shows, qualifying and studio programming.

“I’ve always been impressed with Steve Letarte’s interviews, and feel smarter after hearing him break down the crucial elements of each race,” NBC Sports and NBCSN executive producer Sam Flood said in a statement.

“It wasn’t long into our first meeting about this potential role on our broadcast team when I realized that Steve is going to be ‘Must See TV.'”

After joining Hendrick Motorsports at the age of 16, Letarte quickly rose up the ladder and took over as car chief for the No. 24 Chevrolet of Jeff Gordon in 2002. He then became Gordon’s crew chief in 2005.

Letarte would spend five years in that particular role before moving over to guide Earnhardt Jr. and the No. 88 in 2011. Since that point, Letarte has helped Earnhardt break into the Chase in each of the last three seasons.

“As soon as I met with Sam Flood and his team at NBC Sports, it became obvious to me how excited they were to be covering NASCAR in 2015 and beyond,” Letarte said. “Their excitement, along with my love for racing, solidified my decision to move away from the pit box and into the broadcast booth.

“I want to thank Rick Hendrick and everyone at Hendrick Motorsports for the opportunities they have given me over the last eighteen years, and I want to reaffirm my commitment to Dale Jr. and the entire No. 88 team to go win races and challenge for the championship in 2014.”

Shortly after NBC’s announcement, Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick issued his own reaction to the news.

“You never want to see a talented and all-around quality person like Steve move on, but we understand this is an exciting opportunity for him and his family,” he said in a team release. “He has all the tools to be a terrific broadcaster, and I know our fans will enjoy hearing his perspective.”

But while Letarte’s new career is on the horizon, Hendrick expects him and Earnhardt to be a title threat in what will be their final year together on the track.

“We’re looking forward to a successful year in 2014 with Steve and Dale leading the No. 88 together,” he said. “They have some of the best chemistry in the garage, and we know they’ll build on last season and continue to be a championship-contending team.

“We don’t expect to address the crew chief position until after the season. Everyone with the team is focused on 2014 and committed to having another great year.”